Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

The Three Most Intriguing Games for the Lightning This Season

Every NHL season has games that stand out on the schedule, but for the Tampa Bay Lightning, three matchups carry a little more intrigue than the rest. From an emotional home opener to an Eastern Conference showdown and a rivalry game against the Florida Panthers, these are three dates Lightning fans should have circled on their calendars.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Lightning Star Victor Hedman Fresh, Healthy Ahead of 2026-27 Season

When the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for opening night of the 2026-27 season, they can expect their captain and star defenseman, Victor Hedman, to be back in action.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / August 26

Lightning’s Hedman ‘super fresh, motivated’ ahead of return from mental health leave

A positive outlook for one of the more respected players in the game today. When speaking to Dan Rosen of NHL.com, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman explained how he’s ready to return to the ice after taking time away from the NHL to deal with his mental health struggles.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / August 25

Avalanche 'confident' Cale Makar will have new contract before 2026-27 season

The Colorado Avalanche expect to get a deal done with Cale Makar fairly soon.

Report: Sharks ‘all but certain’ to name Macklin Celebrini captain

Leon Draisaitl: Oilers ‘looking to be coached’ by Mike Babcock

Which team will Connor Ingram sign with?

Where else could NHL be headed after expanding to Texas?

NHL's Central Division expects to be a bloodbath

Macklin Celebrini News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Jon Cooper News / NHL Trade Talk / August 20

Analysts suggest Jon Cooper would chase 'one last great mission' with Maple Leafs

Would Jon Cooper ever leave the Tampa Bay Lightning to join the Toronto Maple Leafs? It certainly doesn’t matter right now, given that Cooper is committed to the Lightning and Jim Hiller was just signed in Toronto as their new coach.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy News / Daily Faceoff / August 19

Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy named top-rated goaltender in EA Sports NHL 27

After securing the second Vezina Trophy win as the NHL’s best goalie of his career, Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has had another honor bestowed upon him.

Nikita Kucherov News / Daily Faceoff / August 18

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov named top rated right winger in EA Sports NHL 27

The accolades keep piling up for Nikita Kucherov. After winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player for the 2025-26 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning forward has been rated as the top right winger in the EA Sports NHL 27 video game, which is set to be released in September.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / August 13

The 5 Tampa Bay Lightning Goaltenders to Make 100 Starts

The history of the Tampa Bay Lightning continues to assemble a growing body of work. Part of that history is the growing list of goalies who have taken the team’s crease.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / August 11

2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Tampa Bay Lightning’s Top 10

Welcome back. It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 10

Lightning’s perfect trade target amid 2026 NHL Free Agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning made some intriguing moves in NHL Free Agency this summer. Another disappointing postseason exit has forced this team to go back to the drawing board.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / July 28

Revisiting Lightning’s Trade for Oliver Bjorkstrand & Yanni Gourde

It’s March 5, 2025. The Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to make an all-in push for another Stanley Cup and pull the trigger on a three-way deal with the Seattle Kraken and the Detroit Red Wings.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL on ClutchPoints / July 27

Lightning’s biggest mistake so far in 2026 NHL free agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning fell in round one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And they had one major goal in mind heading into the 2026 offseason. They needed to find a way to get over the first-round hump and return to their status as a true Stanley Cup contender.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / July 22

Tampa Bay Lightning Announce 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule

The Tampa Bay Lightning officially know the road ahead. The organization unveiled its 2026-27 regular season schedule, marking the beginning of a new era with the NHL's expanded 84-game format.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Switch-hitter 35-HR seasons' quiz

The 'NFL passing leaders since 1970' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30 TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Rookie receiving leader by team' quiz

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / July 19

Reasons for Optimism & Pessimism for Lightning’s 2026-27 Season

The Tampa Bay Lightning have begun the latest phase of preparing for the 2026-27 season. As usual, there is a reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season.

Nikita Kucherov News / NHL on ClutchPoints / July 2

Lightning GM doesn’t want to mess around with Nikita Kucherov contract extension

Wednesday’s opening of NHL free agency also kicked off the window for players entering the final year of their contracts to negotiate extensions with their current clubs before becoming unrestricted free agents next offseason.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL Trade Talk / July 1

John Carlson Signs a 2-Year Deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning

John Carlson is heading to Tampa. The veteran defenseman has signed a two-year contract with the Lightning worth $17 million total, an $8.5 million average annual value, according to Pierre LeBrun.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Pro Hockey Rumors / June 28

Lightning’s Corey Perry, Oliver Bjorkstrand To Reach Free Agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning should have the bulk of their projected $13.17MM in cap space available when free agency kicks off. Tampa Bay is planning to let wingers Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry hit the open market, general manager Julien BriseBois shared with reporters including NHL.com’s Benjamin Pierce following the 2026 NHL Draft.

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 19

Maple Leafs' move for Darren Raddysh is first big risk of offseason

Maple Leafs' move for Darren Raddysh is first big risk of NHL offseason

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a massive offseason when it comes to the short-term and long-term outlook of their franchise. After shockingly missing

Leafs GM John Chayka speaks out amid Matthew Knies trade rumors

Three-time Stanley Cup champion retires after 16-year NHL career

Red Wings want him back, but Patrick Kane has other plans

Brendan Gallagher situation: Canucks hoping for a sweet deal from Canadiens

Former NHLer: Mike Babcock is 'only guy that has ever made me hate hockey'

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Field Level Media / June 19

Leafs add D Darren Raddysh in sign-and-trade deal with Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday in a sign-and-trade deal, taking the defenseman off the upcoming NHL free agent market.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Field Level Media / June 11

Lightning F Nikita Kucherov wins second Hart Trophy

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov won his second Hart Trophy on Thursday, nearly a decade after he won his first. Kucherov previously won the award, given to the player voted most valuable to their team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, in 2018-19.

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 11

Nikita Kucherov wins MVP in closest vote in over two decades

Lightning's Nikita Kucherov wins NHL MVP in closest vote in over two decades

This is Kucherov's second MVP award, making him one of just 20 players in NHL history to win it at least two times.

Oilers star requests trade

Oilers need to end their Mike Babcock pursuit before they do even more damage

The 'Most 5-point NHL games' quiz

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Pro Hockey Rumors / June 6

Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy wins 2026 Vezina Trophy

While the playoffs didn’t end the way that Andrei Vasilevskiy would have liked, there was no questioning his strong regular-season performance.

Canadiens' Cole Caufield shows 'hero' Johnny Gaudreau love after winning Lady Byng Trophy

How have other NHL teams done after hiring franchise icons in the front office?

The '2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning' quiz

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 3

Lightning's Jon Cooper finally named Coach of the Year, but it doesn't feel right

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was announced as the winner of the 2025-26 Jack Adams Award, giving him his first Coach of the Year honor.

Three-time Stanley Cup champion 'likely' to retire from NHL

NHL superstar named grand marshal for NASCAR race in Michigan

Hurricanes' top line is getting chances, not results. What’s wrong?

Golden Knights took advantage of Hurricanes’ systems in Game 1

Could the Montreal Canadiens sell high on Jakub Dobes?

NHL News / Yardbarker / May 25

Winners, losers from Sunday's Stanley Cup playoffs: Vegas stuns Avalanche for 3-0 series lead

In what is turning out to be one of the most stunning playoff series in recent NHL history, the Vegas Golden Knights took a commanding 3-0 lead over the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.

Golden Knights make franchise history with comeback win

Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon limited after taking shot to knee

Hurricanes' OT win evens series, snaps long drought for franchise

Winners, losers from Saturday's NHL playoffs

Former Maple Leafs defenseman signs shocking extension

A Scott Laughton extension is in the cards for the Kings